#16
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Hard to say which brand/model is best since koa wood itself is so variable. Two koa guitars that are outwardly identical could have markedly different sounds; one could be lovely, the other a total dud. Better to play as many as you can and then decide which particular specific guitar you like and can afford.
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#17
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To the original poster, it would help if you qualify what you consider "inexpensive".
Also, it would help if you gave a few hints about your playing style. Personally I'd recommend that you play a few Koa guitars to make sure you like the sound. I had a Spruce top over Koa back and sides custom-built recently by Steve Grimes. He really gave me an education on Koa and discussed the different varieties that grow on the various islands. It is not all the same, and the elevation at which it grows make a big difference in the tonal qualities due to heat & humidity. And as others have mentioned, Koa is expensive. That is primarily because there are not enough building materials on the islands, and shipping in wood for building is expensive. So they use what they have locally before shipping anything else in, thus most all Koa is consumed on the islands. Lastly, Alvarez and Alvarez-Yairi make some nice Koa or Acacia guitars, although most are not all-solid. Here are a few examples: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alvarez-Yair...item2ed49be27f http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alvarez-Arti...item5afbb00901 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Alvarez-...item2a4065b645 Hope that helps, Gary |
#18
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I do not know what inexpensive is, but I have this Takamine EF508KC all Koa for sale $950
check out this link. http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/Ch...mine%20EF508KC |
#19
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APC
APC - on Amazon - have some remarkable guitars. Check them out
__________________
Levin LT-18 (1963) 25 (1959) 123 (1955) Rio (1948) Yairi 1000 (1976) CF Mountain W230 W120 Parkwood PW370M Morris W40 (1974) Finlayson DM-50 APC Koa Vintage V1300 Taylor Custom 12 Fret Avalon L320 Guild M20 Quintric OM Antonio Tsai ..Probably some more.. |
#20
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What is APC? On Amazon, they have no descriptions or ratings.
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Guild CO-2 Guild JF30-12 Guild D55 Goodall Grand Concert Cutaway Walnut/Italian Spruce Santa Cruz Brazilian VJ Taylor 8 String Baritone Blueberry - Grand Concert Magnum Opus J450 Eastman AJ815 Parker PA-24 Babicz Jumbo Identity Walden G730 Silvercreek T170 Charvell 150 SC Takimine G406s |
#21
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yamaha koa
Just today I received a promotion through Acoustic Guitar magazine pitching a pair of all-solid koa Yamaha guitars.
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#22
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__________________
Levin LT-18 (1963) 25 (1959) 123 (1955) Rio (1948) Yairi 1000 (1976) CF Mountain W230 W120 Parkwood PW370M Morris W40 (1974) Finlayson DM-50 APC Koa Vintage V1300 Taylor Custom 12 Fret Avalon L320 Guild M20 Quintric OM Antonio Tsai ..Probably some more.. |
#23
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I don't find them beautiful at all. Taylor uses a hideous stain on their Koa guitars, so they don't look like Koa anymore but more like cheap kitchen cupboards.
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#24
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Quote:
Koa has gotten considerably more expensive since then.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#25
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APC is from portugal I think. Their Ukes are extraordinarily good. Never seen a guitar.
__________________
Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#26
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Inexpensive Koa laminate maybe, solid not unless your buying it used and the seller doesn't realize it's Koa
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#27
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Quote:
And while the OP didn’t want a laminate, the 224K DLX is an awesome looking guitar. There are studies out there that claim laminated transfer sound better than “solid” wood. Finally, for anyone lusting after Koa, approach the Koa topped guitars with caution. These hardwood tops create a very different tone than what you’re used to with spruce tops. They simply don’t vibrate as well. Add Taylor’s very thick 6 mil gloss finish and you’ve got a surface that damps out the bass and treble leaving a very mid-rangy tone. The urban legend is that Koa will “open up” after several years of playing but I ask, why wait?
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Consensus, by definition, is a lack of leadership. Last edited by IndyHD28; 01-15-2019 at 03:29 AM. |
#28
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Quote:
Last edited by Kerbie; 01-31-2019 at 07:04 AM. Reason: Inappropriate |
#29
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I saw that, but why they chose a guitar designed specifically for amplified use is beyond me. Surely whatever tonal quality this costly timber has is being compromised with barn doors and a relatively heavy build. Now, an LS in all Koa would be something to pique my interest-or even in the new small body CSF3, (which in its current spruce/mahogany iteration could be the small guitar I've been looking for).
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#30
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I have no idea of the cost, but there's a youtube video of the all-solid koa Yamaha CSF100K parlour which sounds absolutely glorious. I believe only 100 were originally built, with 25 reserved for Japan, and the rest for global distribution. Looks like they are available again. I saw a used model advertised at £1000 a few years ago, so new I would estimate around £1500, if not more.
Last edited by AndrewG; 01-15-2019 at 08:47 AM. |